Congress banished hopelessness in J&K: Azad

Recalling his tenure as Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir in 2006-08, Congress MP Ghulam Nabi Azad on Thursday wooed voters, saying hist government had replaced the "hopelessness" in the state with all-round development, and promised to do so again, if voted to power.

Jammu: Recalling his tenure as Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir in 2006-08, Congress MP Ghulam Nabi Azad on Thursday wooed voters, saying hist government had replaced the "hopelessness" in the state with all-round development, and promised to do so again, if voted to power.

"Congress-led coalition from 2006-08 banished the cult of ?hopelessness? and ?stagnation? from the state and replaced it with a new paradigm of governance based on the assumption of early fulfilment of public demands and fast-track execution of developmental works," Azad told public rallies in Ramban.

On the campaign trail in Chenab valley, he said, "we will once again revive the same paradigm of all-round and equitable development, if people repose trust in us".

The Congress-led coalition government successfully broke the myth that development is a utopian dream, he said.

"We made development as a narrative and discourse in the State, and dispersed the fruits of development beyond the confines of Jammu & Srinagar city," he said.

The Congress leader was addressing meetings at Assar and Batote in Ramban constituency campaigning for sitting MLA Ashok Kumar, who is seeking re-election. He also held road shows at number of places enroute to Jammu from Bhaderwah during which large number of people greeted him.

"We amply demonstrated to the people of the state how big projects can be executed in the shortest possible time. It is this mantra of development and good governance which we are presenting to the people of the state for seeking fresh and decisive mandate," he said.

He also said the then Congress government ensured that all regions and sections of the society were treated with equity, fairness and justice.

Distribution of resources was done in such a way that nobody felt neglected and all the areas, especially the backward and remote areas like Gurez, Karnah, Pir Panjal, Gool, Gulbgarh, Leh, Zanskar, Kargil, Chenab Valley received focussed attention,? he said.

Before 2002, Chenab Valley region remained neglected and marginalized for decades together due to the discriminatory policies propagated by the successive state governments.

"Only Congress can ensure continuity in the ongoing developmental activities in backward regions like Chenab Valley," he said and sought support of the people.

Hailing the creation of new districts as a landmark decision of the Congress-led government, Azad said this brought enormous comfort and respite to the people who earlier had to travel long distances for reaching out to authorities for getting their petty works done.